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Licata F, Eusebio Bergò P, Edmonds D, Andreone F, Rosa GM. Spatial Ecology of an Arboreal Iguana ( Oplurus cyclurus) in a Treeless Landscape. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3198. [PMID: 37893922 PMCID: PMC10603757 DOI: 10.3390/ani13203198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the spatial ecology of species has important implications for conservation, as it helps identify suitable habitats and minimum requirements for biodiversity monitoring and management. The spiny-tailed lizard Oplurus cyclurus is a widespread endemic iguanid occurring in dry areas of southern and western Madagascar. While the species is known to be mostly arboreal, populations of the Isalo sandstone massif suggest local adaptation to a less forested savannah and a more exposed habitat. We radio-tracked 19 spiny-tailed lizards to investigate the species' rock-dwelling behaviour and spatial ecology at Isalo National Park. Tracked individuals showed high site and burrow fidelity, and a basking behaviour mostly tied to the accessibility of their burrow, the time of day, and their life stage. Activity peaked during the sunniest hours, while juveniles were more active than adults with unfavourable weather conditions. Despite high burrow fidelity, lizards used shelters non-exclusively, regularly changing (approx. once a week) with neighbouring burrows (average distance between burrows = 13.6 m). However, there was no obvious relation between lizards' body and/or tail size and the width and depth of selected burrows. Dynamic Brownian Bridge Movement Models estimated frequented areas over 247.8 m2 (95% isopleth), where territorial overlap is common. Our results challenge the notion that burrow-site fidelity is the sole driving factor behind space utilization in the studied population. We argue that the apparently unusual saxicolous habits imposed by habitat features (the absence of trees) may lead to local behavioural adjustments influencing antipredatory and foraging strategies, as well as intraspecific interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fulvio Licata
- Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (CIBIO), InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- Biopolis Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
| | | | - Devin Edmonds
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61801, USA
| | - Franco Andreone
- Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, 10123 Torino, Italy (F.A.)
| | - Gonçalo M. Rosa
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London NW1 4RY, UK
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c) & Global Change and Sustainability Institute (CHANGE), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
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Benkovský N, Moravec J, Gvoždíková Javůrková V, Šifrová H, Gvoždík V, Jandzik D. Phenotypic differentiation of the slow worm lizards (Squamata: Anguis) across their contact zone in Central Europe. PeerJ 2022; 9:e12482. [PMID: 35036115 PMCID: PMC8706331 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The application of molecular-phylogenetic approaches to taxonomy has had a dramatic effect on our understanding of the diversity of reptiles. These approaches have allowed researchers to reveal previously hidden lineages as well as taxonomic overestimation in morphologically plastic taxa. Slow worms, legless lizards of the genus Anguis (Squamata: Anguidae), were previously considered to comprise either one or two species, and morphology-based intraspecific taxonomy of Anguis fragilis remained controversial throughout the 20th century. After the discovery of deep genetic divergences within the genus, its taxonomy was reconsidered, and as a result, five extant species have been recognized. In order to better understand the patterns of their interspecific differentiation, here we studied phenotypic differences between the two most widespread of them—A. fragilis and A. colchica, and their putative hybrids across the contact zone of both species in Central Europe. Methods We used multivariate and univariate statistics and analyzed ten metric, eleven meristic, and six categorical phenotypic variables in material comprising a total of 326 individuals. We also genotyped individuals from the contact zone for one mitochondrial and two nuclear DNA fragments in order to delineate the distribution of individuals of hybrid and non-hybrid origin. The clines in morphological traits were studied using HZAR. Results We show that the two species are morphologically differentiated. Anguis fragilis has a less robust head, fewer scales covering the body, lower frequency of the external ear opening presence, lower frequency of separated prefrontal scales, higher frequency of prefrontal scales in contact with each other, and body coloration more similar to the juvenile coloration than A. colchica. Slow worms from the contact/hybrid zone are characterized by an intermediate morphology, with more similarities to A. fragilis than to A. colchica. Discussion None of the analyzed characters alone proved to be fully diagnostic, although more than 90% of all individuals could be successfully assigned to one or another species based on numbers of scales around the body. Our results indicate concordant, coincident, and steep clines in character states change. We present several hypotheses on the origin and evolutionary maintenance of the morphological divergence between both species and suggest that different evolutionary histories of the taxa rather than recently acting selection explain the observed morphological variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norbert Benkovský
- Department of Zoology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Jiří Moravec
- Department of Zoology, National Museum, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Helena Šifrová
- Department of Zoology, National Museum, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Václav Gvoždík
- Department of Zoology, National Museum, Prague, Czech Republic.,Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - David Jandzik
- Department of Zoology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
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Mezzasalma M, Guarino FM, Odierna G. Lizards as Model Organisms of Sex Chromosome Evolution: What We Really Know from a Systematic Distribution of Available Data? Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1341. [PMID: 34573323 PMCID: PMC8468487 DOI: 10.3390/genes12091341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Lizards represent unique model organisms in the study of sex determination and sex chromosome evolution. Among tetrapods, they are characterized by an unparalleled diversity of sex determination systems, including temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) and genetic sex determination (GSD) under either male or female heterogamety. Sex chromosome systems are also extremely variable in lizards. They include simple (XY and ZW) and multiple (X1X2Y and Z1Z2W) sex chromosome systems and encompass all the different hypothesized stages of diversification of heterogametic chromosomes, from homomorphic to heteromorphic and completely heterochromatic sex chromosomes. The co-occurrence of TSD, GSD and different sex chromosome systems also characterizes different lizard taxa, which represent ideal models to study the emergence and the evolutionary drivers of sex reversal and sex chromosome turnover. In this review, we present a synthesis of general genome and karyotype features of non-snakes squamates and discuss the main theories and evidences on the evolution and diversification of their different sex determination and sex chromosome systems. We here provide a systematic assessment of the available data on lizard sex chromosome systems and an overview of the main cytogenetic and molecular methods used for their identification, using a qualitative and quantitative approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Mezzasalma
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, I-80126 Naples, Italy; (F.M.G.); (G.O.)
- CIBIO-InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO, Universidade do Porto, Rua Padre Armando Quintas 7, 4485-661 Vairaõ, Portugal
| | - Fabio M. Guarino
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, I-80126 Naples, Italy; (F.M.G.); (G.O.)
| | - Gaetano Odierna
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, I-80126 Naples, Italy; (F.M.G.); (G.O.)
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Pelegrin N, Winemiller KO, Vitt LJ, Fitzgerald DB, Pianka ER. How do lizard niches conserve, diverge or converge? Further exploration of saurian evolutionary ecology. BMC Ecol Evol 2021; 21:149. [PMID: 34330210 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-021-01877-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Environmental conditions on Earth are repeated in non-random patterns that often coincide with species from different regions and time periods having consistent combinations of morphological, physiological and behavioral traits. Observation of repeated trait combinations among species confronting similar environmental conditions suggest that adaptive trait combinations are constrained by functional tradeoffs within or across niche dimensions. In an earlier study, we assembled a high-resolution database of functional traits for 134 lizard species to explore ecological diversification in relation to five fundamental niche dimensions. Here we expand and further examine multivariate relationships in that dataset to assess the relative influence of niche dimensions on the distribution of species in 6-dimensional niche space and how these may deviate from distributions generated from null models. We then analyzed a dataset with lower functional-trait resolution for 1023 lizard species that was compiled from our dataset and a published database, representing most of the extant families and environmental conditions occupied by lizards globally. Ordinations from multivariate analysis were compared with null models to assess how ecological and historical factors have resulted in the conservation, divergence or convergence of lizard niches. Results Lizard species clustered within a functional niche volume influenced mostly by functional traits associated with diet, activity, and habitat/substrate. Consistent patterns of trait combinations within and among niche dimensions yielded 24 functional groups that occupied a total niche space significantly smaller than plausible spaces projected by null models. Null model tests indicated that several functional groups are strongly constrained by phylogeny, such as nocturnality in the Gekkota and the secondarily acquired sit-and-wait foraging strategy in Iguania. Most of the widely distributed and species-rich families contained multiple functional groups thereby contributing to high incidence of niche convergence. Conclusions Comparison of empirical patterns with those generated by null models suggests that ecological filters promote limited sets of trait combinations, especially where similar conditions occur, reflecting both niche convergence and conservatism. Widespread patterns of niche convergence following ancestral niche diversification support the idea that lizard niches are defined by trait-function relationships and interactions with environment that are, to some degree, predictable and independent of phylogeny. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12862-021-01877-8.
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An OV, Van Ha N, Greiman SE, Tram QA, Tuan PA, Binh TT. Description and Molecular Differentiation of a New Skrjabinoptera (Nematode: Physalopteridae) from Eutropis macularia ( Sauria: Scincidae) in North-Central Vietnam. J Parasitol 2021; 107:172-178. [PMID: 33662117 DOI: 10.1645/20-119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Skrjabinoptera vietnamensis n. sp. is described from specimens recovered from the stomach of Eutropis macularia in north-central Vietnam. The new species is characterized by the medium-sized male worms (6.7-8.7 mm in length and 154-182 μm in width) relative to known members of the genus, 2 pointed spicules of unequal length (87-112 μm and 56-72 μm in length), and 10 pairs of caudal papillae. Female worms are larger than male worms (10.7-18.4 mm in length and 264-411 μm in width), with the vulva situated in the anterior part, and embryonated, elliptical eggs, 35-46 μm long by 20-24 μm wide. Skrjabinoptera vietnamensis n. sp. represents the ninth species assigned to the genus and the first species recorded from the Oriental region. Partial sequences of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA), and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) are provided for the new species. The molecular phylogenetic position of the genus Skrjabinoptera is briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ong Vinh An
- Department of Biology, Vinh University, 182 Le Duan Road, Vinh City, Nghe An Province, Vietnam
| | - Nguyen Van Ha
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR), Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Stephen E Greiman
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, 4324 Old Register Road, Statesboro, Georgia 30460
| | - Que Anh Tram
- Center for Tropical Diseases-Nghe An Friendship General Hospital, 04 Le Nin Road, Vinh City, Nghe An Province, Vietnam
| | - Pham Anh Tuan
- Center for Entomology & Parasitology Research, Duy Tan University, Da Nang Province, Vietnam
| | - Tran Thi Binh
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR), Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam
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Szabo B, Noble DWA, Whiting MJ. Learning in non-avian reptiles 40 years on: advances and promising new directions. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 96:331-356. [PMID: 33073470 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Recently, there has been a surge in cognition research using non-avian reptile systems. As a diverse group of animals, non-avian reptiles [turtles, the tuatara, crocodylians, and squamates (lizards, snakes and amphisbaenids)] are good model systems for answering questions related to cognitive ecology, from the role of the environment on the brain, behaviour and learning, to how social and life-history factors correlate with learning ability. Furthermore, given their variable social structure and degree of sociality, studies on reptiles have shown that group living is not a pre-condition for social learning. Past research has demonstrated that non-avian reptiles are capable of more than just instinctive reactions and basic cognition. Despite their ability to provide answers to fundamental questions in cognitive ecology, and a growing literature, there have been no recent systematic syntheses of research in this group. Here, we systematically, and comprehensively review studies on reptile learning. We identify 92 new studies investigating learning in reptiles not included in previous reviews on this topic - affording a unique opportunity to provide a more in-depth synthesis of existing work, its taxonomic distribution, the types of cognitive domains tested and methodologies that have been used. Our review therefore provides a major update on our current state of knowledge and ties the collective evidence together under nine umbrella research areas: (i) habituation of behaviour, (ii) animal training through conditioning, (iii) avoiding aversive stimuli, (iv) spatial learning and memory, (v) learning during foraging, (vi) quality and quantity discrimination, (vii) responding to change, (viii) solving novel problems, and (ix) social learning. Importantly, we identify knowledge gaps and propose themes which offer important future research opportunities including how cognitive ability might influence fitness and survival, testing cognition in ecologically relevant situations, comparing cognition in invasive and non-invasive populations of species, and social learning. To move the field forward, it will be immensely important to build upon the descriptive approach of testing whether a species can learn a task with experimental studies elucidating causal reasons for cognitive variation within and among species. With the appropriate methodology, this young but rapidly growing field of research should advance greatly in the coming years providing significant opportunities for addressing general questions in cognitive ecology and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgit Szabo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia.,Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Wohlenstrasse 50a, Bern, 3032, Switzerland
| | - Daniel W A Noble
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Martin J Whiting
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
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Bates MF, Stanley EL. A taxonomic revision of the south-eastern dragon lizards of the Smaug warreni (Boulenger) species complex in southern Africa, with the description of a new species (Squamata: Cordylidae). PeerJ 2020; 8:e8526. [PMID: 32257631 PMCID: PMC7102504 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A recent multilocus molecular phylogeny of the large dragon lizards of the genus Smaug Stanley et al. (2011) recovered a south-eastern clade of two relatively lightly-armoured, geographically-proximate species (Smaug warreni (Boulenger, 1908) and S. barbertonensis (Van Dam, 1921)). Unexpectedly, S. barbertonensis was found to be paraphyletic, with individuals sampled from northern Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) being more closely related to S. warreni than to S. barbertonensis from the type locality of Barberton in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Examination of voucher specimens used for the molecular analysis, as well as most other available museum material of the three lineages, indicated that the 'Eswatini' lineage-including populations in a small area on the northern Eswatini-Mpumalanga border, and northern KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa-was readily distinguishable from S. barbertonensis sensu stricto (and S. warreni) by its unique dorsal, lateral and ventral colour patterns. In order to further assess the taxonomic status of the three populations, a detailed morphological analysis was conducted. Multivariate analyses of scale counts and body dimensions indicated that the 'Eswatini' lineage and S. warreni were most similar. In particular, S. barbertonensis differed from the other two lineages by its generally lower numbers of transverse rows of dorsal scales, and a relatively wider head. High resolution Computed Tomography also revealed differences in cranial osteology between specimens from the three lineages. The 'Eswatini' lineage is described here as a new species, Smaug swazicus sp. nov., representing the ninth known species of dragon lizard. The new species appears to be near-endemic to Eswatini, with about 90% of its range located there. Our study indicates that S. barbertonensis sensu stricto is therefore a South African endemic restricted to an altitudinal band of about 300 m in the Barberton-Nelspruit-Khandizwe area of eastern Mpumalanga Province, while S. warreni is endemic to the narrow Lebombo Mountain range of South Africa, Eswatini and Mozambique. We present a detailed distribution map for the three species, and a revised diagnostic key to the genus Smaug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael F Bates
- Department of Herpetology, National Museum, Bloemfontein, South Africa.,Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Edward L Stanley
- Department of Herpetology, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Glavaš OJ, Počanić P, Lovrić V, Derežanin L, Tadić Z, Lisičić D. Morphological and ecological divergence in two populations of European glass lizard, Pseudopus apodus (Squamata: Anguidae). Zool Res 2020; 41:172-181. [PMID: 32125102 PMCID: PMC7109015 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2020.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The European glass lizard, Pseudopus apodus (Pallas, 1775), is a large, legless lizard with wide distribution across south-eastern Europe and eastern and central Asia. To date, morphological diversification among populations on a geographically small scale has not yet been reported in this lizard. Thus, we investigated the morphological variations and corresponding differences in habitat utilization between two populations of P. apodus inhabiting the same biogeographical zone within a relatively close geographic area. We hypothesized that minor differences in habitat could induce a significant level of morphological differentiation, thus indicating morphological plasticity in this species on a small geographical scale. We sampled 164 individuals (92 from the Croatian mainland and 72 from the island of Cres). Results showed that P. apodus indeed exhibited morphological differences between populations in the same biogeographical zone within a relatively close geographic area, with the Cres Island individuals being generally larger than the individuals from the mainland. Some ecological characteristics were similar in both populations (e.g., soil temperature, distance to hiding place), whereas others were distinct (e.g., air temperature and humidity). In addition, vegetation cover differed between the two sites, with more vegetation present on the mainland than on the island. Furthermore, the Cres Island population showed clear sexual dimorphism, which was absent in the mainland population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paula Počanić
- Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb 10000, Croatia
| | - Vanja Lovrić
- Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb 10000, Croatia
| | - Lorena Derežanin
- Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb 10000, Croatia
| | - Zoran Tadić
- Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb 10000, Croatia
| | - Duje Lisičić
- Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb 10000, Croatia. E-mail:
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Solovyeva EN, Lebedev VS, Dunayev EA, Nazarov RA, Bannikova AA, Che J, Murphy RW, Poyarkov NA. Cenozoic aridization in Central Eurasia shaped diversification of toad-headed agamas ( Phrynocephalus; Agamidae, Reptilia). PeerJ 2018; 6:e4543. [PMID: 29576991 PMCID: PMC5863718 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
We hypothesize the phylogenetic relationships of the agamid genus Phrynocephalus to assess how past environmental changes shaped the evolutionary and biogeographic history of these lizards and especially the impact of paleogeography and climatic factors. Phrynocephalus is one of the most diverse and taxonomically confusing lizard genera. As a key element of Palearctic deserts, it serves as a promising model for studies of historical biogeography and formation of arid habitats in Eurasia. We used 51 samples representing 33 of 40 recognized species of Phrynocephalus covering all major areas of the genus. Molecular data included four mtDNA (COI, ND2, ND4, Cytb; 2,703 bp) and four nuDNA protein-coding genes (RAG1, BDNF, AKAP9, NKTR; 4,188 bp). AU-tests were implemented to test for significant differences between mtDNA- and nuDNA-based topologies. A time-calibrated phylogeny was estimated using a Bayesian relaxed molecular clock with nine fossil calibrations. We reconstructed the ancestral area of origin, biogeographic scenarios, body size, and the evolution of habitat preference. Phylogenetic analyses of nuDNA genes recovered a well-resolved and supported topology. Analyses detected significant discordance with the less-supported mtDNA genealogy. The position of Phrynocephalus mystaceus conflicted greatly between the two datasets. MtDNA introgression due to ancient hybridization best explained this result. Monophyletic Phrynocephalus contained three main clades: (I) oviparous species from south-western and Middle Asia; (II) viviparous species of Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP); and (III) oviparous species of the Caspian Basin, Middle and Central Asia. Phrynocephalus originated in late Oligocene (26.9 Ma) and modern species diversified during the middle Miocene (14.8–13.5 Ma). The reconstruction of ancestral areas indicated that Phrynocephalus originated in Middle East–southern Middle Asia. Body size miniaturization likely occurred early in the history of Phrynocephalus. The common ancestor of Phrynocephalus probably preferred sandy substrates with the inclusion of clay or gravel. The time of Agaminae radiation and origin of Phrynocephalus in the late Oligocene significantly precedes the landbridge between Afro-Arabia and Eurasia in the Early Miocene. Diversification of Phrynocephalus coincides well with the mid-Miocene climatic transition when a rapid cooling of climate drove progressing aridification and the Paratethys salinity crisis. These factors likely triggered the spreading of desert habitats in Central Eurasia, which Phrynocephalus occupied. The origin of the viviparous Tibetan clade has been associated traditionally with uplifting of the QTP; however, further studies are needed to confirm this. Progressing late Miocene aridification, the decrease of the Paratethys Basin, orogenesis, and Plio–Pleistocene climate oscillations likely promoted further diversification within Phrynocephalus. We discuss Phrynocephalus taxonomy in scope of the new analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Evgeniy A Dunayev
- Zoological Museum, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Roman A Nazarov
- Zoological Museum, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna A Bannikova
- Biological Faculty, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Jing Che
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, and Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.,Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar
| | - Robert W Murphy
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, and Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.,Faculty of Arts and Science, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nikolay A Poyarkov
- Biological Faculty, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
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10
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Pereira FB, Luque JL, Tavares LER. Redescription of the nematode parasites of lizards: Strongyluris oscari Travassos, 1923 (Heterakidae) from Brazil and Pharyngodon mamillatus (Linstow, 1897) (Pharyngodonidae) from Egypt. Acta Parasitol 2017; 62:805-814. [PMID: 29035864 DOI: 10.1515/ap-2017-0097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Strongyluris oscari Travassos, 1923, parasite of Topidurus torquatus (Wied-Neuwied, 1820) (Tropiduridae) from Brazil and Pharyngodon mamillatus (Linstow, 1897) of Chalcides ocellatus (Forskal, 1775) (Scincidae) from Egypt, were redescribed based on light and scanning electron microscopy, and re-evaluation of specimens from parasitological collections. The following features were accurately observed in S. oscari for the first time: structure of lips and pharyngeal valve, presence and distribution of somatic papillae, number and arrangement of caudal papillae, presence of inner sclerotised structures supporting the ventral sucker and the ventral region in tail of males, and structure of the posterior anal lip in females. The unpaired papilla on the inferior edge of the ventral sucker in males of S. oscari is a cuticular groove instead of a true papilla. Regarding the morphology of P. mamillatus the following features were given in details for the first time: structure of the cephalic end in both male and female, location of amphids, position of phasmids in females and the accurate morphology of caudal bursa in males, including the distribution of caudal papillae and the genital cone morphology. Strongyluris oscari and P. mamillatus have no intraspecific morphological variations, but wide range on biometric features. These variations may be accounted by host/environment attributes, since they exhibit wide host and geographical spectra. The present results increased the morphological knowledge of P. mamillatus and S. oscari, strengthening their taxonomic validity.
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Gornung E, Mosconi F, Annesi F, Castiglia R. The first cytogenetic description of Euleptes europaea (Gené, 1839) from Northern Sardinia reveals the highest diploid chromosome number among sphaerodactylid geckos (Sphaerodactylidae, Squamata). Comp Cytogenet 2013; 7:153-161. [PMID: 24260697 PMCID: PMC3833756 DOI: 10.3897/compcytogen.v7i2.4881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2013] [Accepted: 05/27/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The karyotype of a sphaerodactylid gecko Euleptes europaea (Gené, 1839) was assembled for the first time in this species. It is made of 2n = 42 gradually decreasing in size chromosomes, the highest chromosome number so far acknowledged in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The second chromosome pair of the karyotype appears slightly heteromorphic in the male individual. Accordingly, FISH with a telomeric probe revealed an uneven distribution of telomeric repeats on the two homologues of this pair, which may be indicative of an XY sex-determination system in the species, to be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Gornung
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie “Charles Darwin”, Università di Roma “La Sapienza”, Via Alfonso Borelli 50 – 00161 – Roma – Italia
| | - Fabio Mosconi
- Cooperativa Myosotis c/o Museo Civico di Zoologia di Roma, Via Aldrovandi 18 – 00197 – Roma – Italia
| | - Flavia Annesi
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie “Charles Darwin”, Università di Roma “La Sapienza”, Via Alfonso Borelli 50 – 00161 – Roma – Italia
| | - Riccardo Castiglia
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie “Charles Darwin”, Università di Roma “La Sapienza”, Via Alfonso Borelli 50 – 00161 – Roma – Italia
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